Class 8th NCERT Science Solution Chapter 10 – Reaching the age of adolescence

In this post we will see science class 8th chapter 10 solution by expert teacher.

You can check the Complete Science Solution  here – NCERT Class 8th Science Solutions – Complete Solution List

Chapter 10 Solutions 

1. What is the term used for chemical secretion of endocrine gland responsible for changes taking place in the body ?

Answer – Hormones are chemical substance which are secreted by endocrine glands. They are responsible for changes taking place in the body.

2.  Define adolescence.

Answer –  Adolescence is the time period between the beginning of puberty and adulthood. During this period, the body undergoes several changes alongside reproductive maturity. It begins around the age of 11 and lasts till 18 or 19 years of age. The period of adolescence may vary from person to person.

3.  What is menstruation? Explain.

Answer – Menstruation is the process of the shedding of the uterine lining on a regular monthly basis. It begins at puberty and is the reproductive cycle of the female body. Every month, the uterus prepares itself to receive a fertilized egg. Therefore, the inner lining of the uterus becomes thick and is supplied with blood to nourish the embryo. If the egg is not fertilized then lining of the uterus breaks down and gets released in the form of blood through the vagina. This lasts for about two to eight days. This cycle occurs every month and is known as the menstrual cycle.

4. List changes in the body that take place at puberty 

Answer – Changes at puberty

(i) Sudden increase in height and weight.

(ii) Broadening of shoulder and widening of chest in boys, In girls, the region below waist become wider.

(iii) In boys, under the influence of hormones, the larynx becomes prominent, the vocal cords become larger and thicker. These changes cause the voice to become hoarse.

(iv)  Appearance of hair in areas such as underarms, face, hands, and legs.

(v)  Appearance of acne as a result of excessive secretion of oil from skin.

(vi) Testis grows and starts producing sperm in males, whereas in females, the ovary enlarges and starts producing matured eggs.

5.  Prepare a table having two columns depicting names of endocrine glands and hormones secreted by them.

Answer – 

 Endocrine gland 

 Hormones

 Testis

Testosterone

 Ovary

 Oestrogen

 Thyroid

 Thyroxin

 Adrenal

 Adrenalin

Pancreas

 Insulin

 Pituitary

Growth of hormones

6.  What are sex hormones? Why are they named so? State their function.

Answer – Sex hormones are chemical substances produced by sex organs. for example, testosterone is the male sex hormone produced by the testis, and oestrogen is the female sex hormones produced by the ovary. These hormones affect the sexual features of an organisms. Hence, they are known as sex hormones.

 Functions of sex hormones:

Testosterone:  This hormones brings about secondary sex characters in boys such as the growth of a bread, the voice becoming hoarse, development of reproductive organs, etc.

Oestrogen:   This hormones is responsible for the development of secondary sexual characters in females such as the enlargement of breasts, development of female reproductive organ, etc.

7.   Choose the correct option. 

(a) Adolescents should be careful about what they eat,because. 

(i) Proper diet develops their brain.

(ii) Proper diet is needed for the rapid growth taking place in their body.

(iii) Adolescents feel hungry all the time.

(iv)  Taste buds are well development in teenagers.

Answer –  Proper diet is needed for the rapid growth taking place in their body.

(b) Reproductive age in women starts when their. 

(i) Mensuration starts

(ii)Breast start developing

(iii) Body weight increases

(iv) Height increases

Answer – Menstruation starts.

(c)  The right meal for adolescents consists of 

(i) Chips, noodles, coke.

(ii) Chapati, dal, vegetables.

(iii) Rice, noodles and burger.

(iv) Vegetable cutlets, chips and lemon drink.

Answer – Chapati, dal, vegetable.

8. Write notes on. 

(a) Adam’s apple.

Answer – Adam’s apple

In human males, the larynx grows larger during puberty and can be seen as a protruding is known as the adam’s apple. In boys, under the influence of sex hormones. As a result, the vocal cords become longer and thicker, causing the voice to become hoarse. However, in females the larynx is of a small size and is hardly visible. Therefore, girls have a high pitched voice, while the voice of boys is low pitched.

(b)  Secondary sexual characters.

Answer – Secondary sexual characters.

  Secondary sexual characters are those features that help in distinguishing the male and the female body from each other. The are physically or behavioural  characteristics that appears in human at the time of puberty.

Secondary sexual characters in boys

(i) Appearance of moustache and bread.

(ii) Appearance of chest hair.

(iii) Growth of hair in genital area and other parts of the skin.

Secondary sexual characters in girls

(i) Increase in breast size and darkening of the skin of nipple present at the tip of the breasts.

(ii)  Growth of hair in genital area and other body part.

 Sex determination in an unborn baby

The sex of a baby is determined by the type of a male gametes that fuses with the female gametes.

All human being have 23 pairs of chromosomes in their nuclei. Out of these 23 pairs, the last pair is known as the sex chromosomes.

The human male have 23 pair of chromosomes including XY sex chromosomes. Therefore, the male gametes has 22 chromosomes and either an X or Y sex chromosomes.

Male gametes can be of two types: 22+X or 22+Y

Females have 23 pairs of chromosomes including XX sex chromosomes. Therefore, their gametes can only have 22 chromosomes and one X sex chromosome.

Type of female gametes: 22+X

Thus, as the mother provides only X chromosomes, the sex of the baby is determined by the type of male gamete (X or Y)  That fuses with the X chromosomes of the female.

9.  Word game: Use the clues to work out the words.

Across

3.  Protruding voice box in boys

4. Glands without ducts

7. Endocrine gland attached to brain

8.  Secretion of endocrine gland

9.  Pancreatic hormone

10. Female hormone

Down

1.  Male hormone

2.  Secretes thyroxine

3.  Another term for teenager

5.  Hormones reaches here through blood stream

6.  Voice box

7.  Term for changes at adolescence

Answer- 

 Across

3. ADAM’S APPLE

4. ENDOCRINE

7. PITUITARY

8. HORMONE

9. INSULIN

10. ESTROGEN

Down 

1. TESTOSTERONE

2. THYROID

3. ADOLESCENCE

5. TARGET SITE

6. LARYNX

7. PUBERTY

10.    The table below shows the data on likely  heights of boys and girls as they grow in age. Draw graph showing height and age for both boys and girls on the same graph paper. What conclusions can be drawn from these graphs?

Age (Years)

Height (cm)

Boys Girls

0

53

53

4

96

92

8

114

110

12

 129

133

16

150

150

20

173

165

Answer – The graph depicts the relation between the age and height of both boys and girls. During puberty, there is a sudden increase in height of both boys and girls. on the basis of the above graph. It can be observed that during the age of 4 – 8 years, girls have less height as compared to boys. However, as soon as girls reach 12 – 13 years, their height shows a sudden increase and becomes more than boys. In later years, growth in both sexes becomes stable. Growth during puberty is under the control of hormones.

You can check the Complete Science Solution  here – NCERT Class 8th Science Solutions – Complete Solution List

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